The Delhi High Court, upon hearing a petition against the notification issued by the Food Safety Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) on chandi ka warq (silver leaf), has stayed its implementation, which was scheduled to commence on August 1, 2017.

In its notification, issued last year, the country’s apex food regulator banned the use of the material of animal origin to manufacture silver leaf, which is used to decorate sweets and other eatables.

A bench of the High Court observed, “We are of the view that the issue raised by the petitioners deserves to be considered by the respondent, especially the aspects of labelling and marking the products of the petitioners as non-vegetarian, to address the concerns of the consumers.”

It, therefore, added that it was directed that the writ petition, as well as this order, urgently be placed before the secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, for consideration.

A notice was also issued to the health ministry in this regard.

According to the original regulation [2.11.4, pertaining to chandi ka warq (silver leaf)] laid down by the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, “Food-grade shall be in the form of sheets, free from creases and folds and contain not less than 99.9 per cent of silver.”

Following the amendment, it read, “Food-grade shall be in the form of sheet of uniform thickness; free from creases and folds; have weight of silver foil upto 2.8g per sq m; have silver content of minimum 999/1,000 fineness; not be manufactured using any material of animal origin at any stage, and be in accordance with the provisions of the Food Safety and Standards (Contaminants, Toxins and Residues) Regulations, 2011 and the Food Safety and Standards (Packaging and Labelling), Regulations, 2011.”

The petitioners challenged the addition of Clause (iv) of Sub-regulation 2.11.4 of the Food Safety and Standards (Food Products) Regulations, 2011 on the grounds that the same did not contain any contaminants to the quality and characteristics of the silver leaf, and a complete class of workmen using their skills to manufacture silver leaf (numbering over 1,50,000) would be rendered jobless.

The next hearing of this case is scheduled to take place on August 29, 2017.